Movie Club: Amelie, Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet

“Amelie” is a French romantic comedy from 2001. This fantastic film is life affirming and heart-warming on so many levels. Whenever I watch this movie, it gives me a sense that all is well with the world. It revives my faith in people and reminds me of how we are capable of caring for each other, while living with our own priorities, fears, shortcoming and strengths. It also reminds me that we can change the world by being more sensitive to everyone’s struggles and personal journeys.

The key message of the movie is that you should think of your own happiness and not just live vicariously through others. You are worthy of self-respect. The main character is Amelie, played by Audrey Tautou. She is a creative and fragile woman who enjoys creating wonder in the lives of the people around her. Her challenge is that she cannot embrace the magic of love in her own life.

The story is simple. Amelie’s life is mundane and predictable until she is reminded by Princess Diana’s death that life can be fleeting. So, she decides to go on a mission to do small things to bring happiness to her friends and acquaintances.

On her journey to bring happiness to the world, Amelie falls in love with Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz), who collects pictures left behind at photo booths around Paris. They play a romantic cat and mouse game, experiencing a beautiful tension, until the inevitable moment that they connect.

The reason I chose Amelie for the Sixty and Me Movie Club is because it celebrates the unique (and sometimes quirky) character of every single woman in our group. In the movie, each character has an obsession or passion of some kind.

Nino is focused on collecting his photo booth pictures, Georgette is obsessed by being sick, and Joseph is obsessed with Gina. Amelie’s father loves on his garden gnome and Amelie can only think of helping others.

It is a powerful reminder that we all have our unique characteristics, which become a lens through which we see the world.

Amelie definitely gets my personal recommendation and I hope you also enjoy it.

If you don’t already have a copy of “Amelie,” you can get it on Amazon.

To kick things off, here are a few questions for discussion. Please add your thoughts in the comments:

Which character did you most identify with? Why?

What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

What was the most endearing scene in the movie?

Did you like the quirky style of the movie?

Did the movie end in the way you wanted it to?

Was there any symbolism in the movie that you found intriguing?

I hope you enjoy being a part of our movie club for women over 60! Please leave your comments below.